Abstract: An electrode is provided. The electrode includes a contact pad composed of boron-doped polycrystalline diamond (BDD); a fiber core composed of BDD extending longitudinally from the contact pad from a first end that is in direct contact with the contact pad to an opposing second end; and a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cladding that coats and hermetically seals the contact pad and the fiber core. A first portion of the contact pad and a second portion at or near the second end of the fiber core are not coated and hermetically scaled by the PCD cladding. A method of fabricating the electrode is also provided.

Abstract: A magnetic-field-assisted plasma coating system and method are provided. In another aspect, a coating system employs a cathode with a linearly moveable magnetic field. A further aspect employs a workpiece as an anode within which is located an elongated cathode which internally coats a bore of the workpiece. Still another aspect of the present system and method employs an elongated and hollow cathode with at least one magnetic source therein. In yet another aspect, end caps or plates seal against one or more open ends of a workpiece bore to be coated, with a cathode inserted into the bore and a vacuum being created within the bore such that the workpiece itself defines at least a portion of a vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A panel block for retrofitting a structure is provided. The panel block includes a plurality of foam blocks for insulation. Each of the foam blocks includes a first feature and a second feature. The first feature and the second feature are configured to interlock adjacent panel blocks. A protective cladding layer is positioned on one of the foam blocks.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to large area single crystal diamond (SCD) surfaces and substrates, and their methods of formation. Typical large area substrates can be at least about 25 mm, 50 mm, or 100 mm in diameter or square edge length, and suitable thicknesses can be about 100 ?m to 1000 ?m. The large area substrates have a high degree of crystallographic alignment. The large area substrates can be used in a variety of electronics and/or optics applications. Methods of forming the large area substrates generally include lateral and vertical growth of SCD on spaced apart and crystallographically aligned SCD seed substrates, with the individual SCD growth layers eventually merging to form a composite SCD layer of high quality and high crystallographic alignment. A diamond substrate holder can be used to crystallographically align the SCD seed substrates and reduce the effect of thermal stress on the formed SCD layers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for synthesizing a diamond using a diamond synthesis machine. A processor receives a plurality of images of a diamond during synthesis within a diamond synthesis machine, each of the plurality of images captured within a time period. The processor executes a diamond state prediction machine learning model using the plurality of images to obtain a predicted data object, the predicted data object indicating a predicted state of the diamond within the diamond synthesis machine at a time subsequent to the time period. The processor detects a predicted defect, a number of defects, defect types, and/or sub-features of such defects and/or other characteristics (e.g., a predicted shape, size, and/or other properties of predicted contours for the diamond and/or pocket holder) of the predicted state of the diamond. The processor adjusts operation of the diamond synthesis machine.

Abstract: A trace metal analysis detector and method of operating the same to detect metals in various fluid samples using boron doped diamond working electrodes.

Abstract: An electrode deionizer and method remove polarized molecules of an ionic cluster in a fluid. In another aspect, electrophoresis and dielectrophoresis forces are used between electrodes to move a polarized molecular cluster in an electric field, which are then trapped in an activated-carbon on an anode. A further aspect uses dielectrophoresis to reduce the size of polarized molecules of an ionic cluster in a fluid. Yet another aspect of the present apparatus and method employ RF power in addition to DC power.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods including software processes for developing test cases for testing robustness of AI-based image-recognition models-under-test (MUTs) with respect to types of image variation transformations. The system may generate various types of robustness metrics for the MUT and output user-readable reports about the MUT's performance. The system trains machine-learning architectures to generate test cases including augmented images according to the types of image transformations, applies the IR MUTs, and then evaluates the image feature vector embeddings and predicted classification produced by the IR MUTs to determine the accuracy of the MUT with respect to each type of transformation.

Abstract: A plasma activated biochar filter is provided. In another aspect, Fluorine-based reactive gas is used in a plasma reactor to activate biochar. A further aspect employs a substrate flocked with plasma activated biochar. Yet another aspect employs plasma activated and fluorinated biochar on a porous substrate to act as an oil-fluid separating filter.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is provided. Another aspect pertains to a self-leveling polishing apparatus for smoothing diamonds. Yet another aspect of the present system uses a ball and swivel joint in a diamond polishing machine. A further aspect employs a polishing apparatus including a diamond-holder, an elongated arm using gravity to apply downward polishing pressure of the diamond workpiece against a polishing wheel, and a sweeping transmission to cause the holder to radially move across the rotating polishing wheel.

Abstract: A method comprising providing a carbonaceous material, the substrate having a first thermal conductivity. The method further comprises depositing a first masking layer having a second thermal conductivity on at least a portion of the substrate, a ratio of the second thermal conductivity to the first thermal conductivity being less than or equal to 1:30. The method further comprises depositing a second masking layer on the first masking layer to form an etch mask, and etching an exposed portion of the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a biogel nanosensor for detection of an analyte that includes an acryloyl or methacryloyl modified hydrogel and nucleic acid amplification reagents in picoliter or nanoliter volume in the form of microarray. Also disclosed are methods of making the disclosed biogel nanosensor, and methods of using the biogel nanosensors.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for synthesizing a diamond using a diamond synthesis machine. A processor receives a plurality of images of a diamond during synthesis within a diamond synthesis machine, each of the plurality of images captured within a time period. The processor executes a diamond state prediction machine learning model using the plurality of images to obtain a predicted data object, the predicted data object indicating a predicted state of the diamond within the diamond synthesis machine at a time subsequent to the time period. The processor detects a predicted defect, a number of defects, defect types, and/or sub-features of such defects and/or other characteristics (e.g., a predicted shape, size, and/or other properties of predicted contours for the diamond and/or pocket holder) of the predicted state of the diamond. The processor adjusts operation of the diamond synthesis machine.

Abstract: A polishing apparatus is provided. Another aspect pertains to a self-leveling polishing apparatus for smoothing diamonds. Yet another aspect of the present system uses a ball and swivel joint in a diamond polishing machine. A further aspect employs a polishing apparatus including a diamond-holder, an elongated arm using gravity to apply downward polishing pressure of the diamond workpiece against a polishing wheel, and a sweeping transmission to cause the holder to radially move across the rotating polishing wheel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for synthesizing a diamond using a diamond synthesis machine. A processor receives a plurality of images of a diamond during synthesis within a diamond synthesis machine, each of the plurality of images captured within a time period. The processor executes a diamond state prediction machine learning model using the plurality of images to obtain a predicted data object, the predicted data object indicating a predicted state of the diamond within the diamond synthesis machine at a time subsequent to the time period. The processor detects a predicted defect, a number of defects, defect types, and/or sub-features of such defects and/or other characteristics (e.g., a predicted shape, size, and/or other properties of predicted contours for the diamond and/or pocket holder) of the predicted state of the diamond. The processor adjusts operation of the diamond synthesis machine.

Abstract: A fusion protein comprising a target protein, a first recombinant viral coat protein, a second recombinant viral coat protein and a first linkage peptide is provided. The target protein is at N-terminus of the first recombinant viral coat protein. The first recombinant viral coat protein is linked to N-terminus of the first linkage peptide. The second recombinant viral coat protein is linked to C-terminus of the first linkage peptide. The first and second recombinant viral coat proteins are derived from the coat protein (CP) of alfalfa mosaic virus (AIMV). The fusion protein may further comprise a second linkage peptide between the target protein and the first recombinant viral coat protein. The fusion protein may form a virus like particle (VLP). The target protein may be displayed on the surface of the VLP. Also provided are methods for producing the fusion protein and the VLP as well as the uses of the fusion protein and/or the VLP.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for pretreating a sample for metals determination.

Abstract: Systems and methods for characterization of retrofit opportunities are described. Some embodiments are directed to methods for determining the air leakage rate of a building, and accordingly, for determining suitability of sealing of air leaks to improve the energy efficiency of a building. The methods may comprise computing, using at least one computing device disposed remote from a building and based at least in part on heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) runtime data associated with the building, one or more thermal characteristics of the building. The HVAC runtime data may be computed based on data received from a thermostat or a meter, such as an electric or a gas meter. To isolate the impact of air leakage, subsets of the HVAC runtime data at time intervals selected to have substantially the same conditions, but different wind speeds, may be computed.

Abstract: An automatic plant tissue sampler and a method for operating the same are provided. The sampler can include a plant handler configured to transport a plurality of plants to an imager. The imager may be configured to image plants to identify a sampling location. The automatic plant tissue sampler also includes a sampler configured to remove a tissue sample from the sampling location of plants, and a collection vessel configured to receive the tissue samples. The automatic plant tissue sampler may transport a plurality of plants to an imager and images the plurality of plants to identify a sampling location. The automatic plant tissue sampler can remove a tissue sample from the sampling location of the plurality of plants and store the tissue samples in a collection vessel for testing.

Abstract: Particles offering multiple doses of an active agent to a subject via a single administration of the active agent to the subject are provided. The particles comprise multiple layers, including two dosing layers each having the active agent and an intervening layer that separates the two dosing layers, and provide a first dose of the active agent from the dosing layer covering the intervening layer upon exposure to an aqueous environment after the particles are administered to the subject, and later a second dose of the active agent from the dosing layer covered by the intervening layer after the intervening layer degrades in the body of the subject. Methods for preparing the particles are also provided. Methods for treating or preventing a disease or disorder in a subject in need thereof with two or more doses of an active agent via a single administration to the subject are further provided.